Synopsis

A 21st century Jack the Ripper set in the present day, Maniac is a reboot of the cult film considered by many to be the most suspenseful slasher movie ever made. Frank (Elijah Wood) is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates and the number of victims increases, it becomes clear that Frank is far more dangerous than he seems. With a pulsating electronic score by Rob, the film is an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward spiraling nightmare of a killer and his victims.

Official Review

While Halloween and Friday the 13th took the world by storm, William Lustig’s 1980 Maniac never received the same attention as the aforementioned slashers, but definitely helped pave the way for A Nightmare on Elm Street and as well as its own line of various copycats. Maniac was quite simply forgotten (except among us hardcore horror nuts), which is why the idea of remaking it for name value never made any sense. Yet, to my surprise, Alex Aja and producing/writing partner Grégory Levasseur actually had something to say. There’s a purpose for this remake, and the execution propels it into becoming a modern horror classic. …Read More